Eight convicted drug smugglers have been executed by firing squad in Indonesia.

The executions took place in Besi prison on the island of Nusakambangan early on Wednesday morning local time.

However, the execution of a ninth convict, a woman from the Philippines, was postponed at the last minute.

Among those killed were Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. Earlier, the men’s families were allowed to see them for the last time.

Australia had appealed to Indonesia to delay the executions, citing alleged flaws in how their case was prosecuted.

After the executions, Steven Ciobo, parliamentary secretary to Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, tweeted: “There are few greater displays of abuse of state power and regressive thinking than the death penalty.”

Those put to death also include Nigerian nationals, a Brazilian and an Indonesian.

Filipina woman Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso was also due to be executed, but this was delayed after a request by the Philippine president, a spokesman from the attorney general’s office told the BBC.

The request came after someone suspected of framing Veloso to carry heroin into Indonesia surrendered to police in the Philippines, the spokesman went on.